Boot ‘n’ Paddle: Whiteface’s Annual Pond Skim

Greetings, fellow SLUzers! The calendar says it’s spring, but the North Country has other ideas. While Mother Nature wrestles with the ever-increasing, incredibly terrifying threat of human-made climate change, trip leaders and participants of the St. Lawrence Outing Club headed to Whiteface to take advantage of the exciting and surprising weather.

However, this was no ordinary day on the slopes; no, Saturday, April 6, was the International Pond Skim! The pond skim is a time-honored tradition on ski mountains across the world, from the smallest of family mountains to the most corporate of lodges in the West. A pond skim is traditionally carved out of an exhibitionist trail on the mountain- one easily accessible to both foot and ski traffic. At the top lies a gate and entry arena. At the bottom, a pit brimming with water.

Decked in their best costumes, skiers and boarders take turns sending themselves down the runway in hopes of making it across said pond. However, most contestants lack the speed to do so, sinking into the frigid depths.

For those who do make it, the rules continually shift, folding in jumps and tricks while lowering the starting point. At the end of the day, one snowsports athlete stands less wet than the others and is crowned Champion of the Pond Skim.

Of course, the Whiteface Pond Skim continued this grand tradition. Several trips were made to the event, including one involving a hike up Saranac Lake’s Mt. Baker beforehand and an ice climbing venture into the Adirondacks.

In addition to the trip arriving solely for the pond skim, approximately 20 Saints ventured to the mountain for the event. Though the weather was grey and the trails a tad icy, stoke for the event remained high. According to trip leader Ruby Marden ’21, “Whiteface’s pond skim was a truly riveting event of both triumph and hilarity! I was also blown away by the wide ranging ages of people, willingly flinging their bodies into freezing cold water wearing everything from bonnets to bath robes!!”

Marden continued, “my only critique was the lack of SLU student participation… Let’s step up our game during the next skimmin’ season! Here we go, Saints!”

All in all, the season on the mountain was a long, fruitful series of ventures in speed, huckin’ and daring tomfoolery. Hundreds of students had the opportunity to ski at local mountains like Whiteface, Gore, Titus and others even farther afield like Magic Mountain and Jay Peak.

St. Lawrence remained one of the nation’s top ski schools, or at least schools to ski at. Now, as our calendar ticks towards Finals Week, we hope in turn for sunnier days, melted water and a continuation of that beautiful St. Lawrence love and passion for the outdoors.

Want to get on the OC listserv? Email pceckh16@stlawu.edu to find out how.